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How to Unblock Websites at School

Updated Jul 2, 2024

Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.

Fact-checked by Simon Migliano

Our Verdict

The best way to unblock websites at school is to use a VPN. However, you can also bypass school website blocks without a VPN by using a free web proxy, a URL shortener, or by connecting to a mobile hotspot instead. All of these methods work to bypass website restrictions on school Chromebooks, too.

How to unblock websites at school

Schools regularly block websites and impose restrictions on their students’ internet usage.

Some of these restrictions are required by law, while others are put in place to increase student productivity, improve security on the school WiFi network, or to manage WiFi bandwidth.

We do not recommend violating your school’s policy. However, it isn’t uncommon for school content filters to accidentally block useful research websites, or other valuable resources.

It can therefore be helpful to know how to bypass school restrictions, if necessary.

How to access blocked websites at school ultimately depends on the device you’re using. There are usually three main scenarios:

You’re using a personal device on school WiFi.
You’re using a school computer or tablet, e.g. in the library or in a classroom.
You’re using a school Chromebook.

Here is a quick overview of how to unblock websites in each of the scenarios above:

Summary: How to Unblock Websites at School

If you’re using a personal device, the best way to unblock websites on school WiFi is to use a VPN. To do this:

Sign up to a top-rated VPN service and download the VPN app onto your phone, tablet or laptop. You will probably have to do this at home, as VPN websites are commonly blocked on school WiFi networks. For the best results, we recommend CyberGhost VPN or Proton VPN Free.
At school, open the VPN app and turn it on. Your traffic will now be encrypted and redirected through a remote VPN server.
Navigate to the blocked website. You should now have access to it.

If you’re using a school computer, you typically won’t be able to use a VPN or any other tool that needs downloading. You probably won’t be allowed to install a proxy extension for Google Chrome, either. Instead, we recommend using a web proxy to unblock websites on a school computer. Here’s how:
1. Enter the URL of a web proxy into your browser’s search bar. We recommend the Hide.me Free Proxy.
2. Input the URL for the website you want to unblock. If you can choose the proxy server’s location, choose the location nearest to you for the fastest speeds.
3. Click ‘Connect’. The website should appear on your screen unblocked.
If you’re using a school Chromebook, the best way to bypass content restrictions will depend on how strictly your school district has set it up. If you are allowed to install one, then using a Chrome VPN extension is by far the best way to unblock websites on a school Chromebook.

Otherwise, we recommend using a web proxy or switching to a mobile hotspot. Here’s how to do it:
1. Turn on the WiFi Hotspot feature on your smartphone. On Android, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Network & internet’ > ‘Hotspot & tethering’. On iPhone, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Personal Hotspot’.
2. Connect your school Chromebook to the hotspot. Access the WiFi settings in the bottom-right corner of the screen and connect to the hotspot using the password displayed on your cell phone.
3. Navigate to the blocked website on your Chromebook. It should now load unblocked.

EXPERT ADVICE: In this guide we explain how to unblock websites that are blocked by your school. To learn how to bypass other blocks, such as geographic restrictions or government censorship, follow our instructions on how to unblock websites from anywhere.

How to Unblock Websites On a School Chromebook

Google Chromebooks are now used by over 50 million students and educators in schools worldwide.

Their popularity stems from their affordability, speed, and durability, but also from the fact that they enable school administrators to easily enforce content filters. Not all Chromebooks support local software installation, which means it’s much harder to install website unblocking applications onto the device, such as VPN or proxy apps.

Gaming site blocked on a Google Chromebook

Schools impose restrictions on gaming websites.

The best way to unblock websites on a school Chromebook is to use a VPN extension for Google Chrome. They let you access virtually any blocked website on Chrome, deliver quick connection speeds, and are incredibly easy to set up and use on a Chromebook.

To use a VPN extension to unblock websites on a school chromebook:

Subscribe to a VPN service with a high-quality Chrome extension. Our top recommendation is CyberGhost.
On your Chromebook, click the “Launcher” button. It’s in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Select “All Apps” and then click the “Web Store” icon. If you can’t see the “Web Store” icon, it may be because your school has blocked Chrome store access. In this case, use a web proxy.
Search for your chosen VPN and click “Add To Chrome”. Make sure you download the official extension.
Open the VPN chrome extension. You should be prompted to sign into your account.
Choose a VPN server location. For fastest speeds, choose a server close to your real location.
Turn the VPN extension on and navigate to the blocked website in your browser. You should now be able to freely access the website.

A VPN Chrome extension works similarly to a full VPN application, except it only works within the browser. That means it encrypts your connection and hides your IP address for your browser traffic only.

NOTE: On Chromebooks, this isn’t much of an issue because all of your traffic is usually browser traffic. However, it’s still worth being aware of this difference between VPN applications and VPN browser extensions.

Unfortunately, many school districts configure their chromebooks in a way that blocks students from accessing the Chrome Web Store. You can tell based on whether you see a “Web Store” icon after clicking “All Apps”.

If you can’t, then it means your school has blocked the Web Store and you won’t be able to install a VPN chrome extension.

EXPERT TIP: Some schools allow their students to access the Chrome Web Store, but restrict the types of extensions that can be installed to ‘educational’ categories only. As a result, it is possible that VPN and proxy extensions may still not be available, even when the Web Store is accessible.

To bypass restrictions on a school chromebook without a VPN, you’ll need to use one of the other methods listed below. Our top recommendations are to use a web proxy or switch to mobile data.

The 5 Best Methods to Unblock Websites at School

According to our tests, the five best ways to unblock a website at school are:

Use a VPN: The most effective way to unblock websites at school.
Use a Web Proxy: The fastest way to bypass school restrictions.
Use Mobile Data: A free way to access websites that are blocked on school WiFi.
Use a URL Shortener: A simple, free tool for beating URL-based website blocks.
Use The Wayback Machine: The best way to access restricted content without getting in trouble.

Here is a comparison of these five methods, plus the VPN extension for Chrome:

Method	Efficacy	Speed	Free or Paid?	Works on Personal Device?	Works on School Computer?	Works on School Chromebook?	Similar Alternatives
VPN app	Very High	Very Fast	Paid	Yes	No	No	Tor Browser, Free VPN
VPN Extension	High	Very Fast	Paid	Yes	No	Unlikely	Proxy Browser Extension
Web Proxy	Medium	Fast	Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	URL Unblocker
Mobile Hotspot	Very High	Very Fast	Free	Yes	Unlikely	Yes	Change Network Proxy
URL Shortener	Low	Very Fast	Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	IP Search, Mobile Site
Wayback Machine	Medium	Fast	Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Google Cache

We’ll now take a closer look at each of these methods and how to use them to unblock websites at school. Alternatively, skip to our section of how schools block websites in the first place.

1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Pros	Cons
The most effective way to access blocked websites at school	You usually can’t install a VPN application on school chromebooks or school computers
Delivers very quick connection speeds	Safe, high-quality VPNs require a subscription fee
Military-grade encryption protects your privacy and security online
Large selection of server locations to choose from

The most reliable, safe, and effective way to unblock websites at school is to use a VPN. It can be difficult to access one if you’re using a school computer, but if you’re able to use a VPN at school then it is by far the best method for bypassing restrictions.

The best VPN for unblocking websites is CyberGhost, but you can also use a safe free VPN like Proton VPN Free.

Using Windscribe Free VPN with Netflix

Windscribe Free unblocks UK Netflix.

Essentially, a VPN works by creating a tunnel for your traffic to travel through. To do this, it encrypts your connection and re-routes it via a remote VPN server, where it leaves the tunnel and travels on to your target website.

Most school website blocks are based on the URL or IP address of the website you’re visiting. When you use a VPN, these details are hidden inside the VPN tunnel. That’s why it works to bypass content restrictions at school.

The local network (i.e. the school WiFi) only sees the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting to, which means it cannot enforce any of its content restrictions.

If you’re trying to unblock websites on a personal device while connected to school WiFi, then using a VPN is cheap, quick, and very simple to set up. It’ll work to unblock YouTube, gaming websites, and streaming content on the school network. It will also work to unblock websites on Google Chrome.

The best VPNs even offer an obfuscation feature, which can hide the fact you’re using a VPN from the network administrator and your teachers.

NOTE: Without VPN obfuscation, your school WiFi administrator can most likely see that you’re using a VPN. They won’t be able to see your browsing activity, but the VPN encryption, protocols, port numbers and server IP address are all giveaways that you have a VPN turned on.

Unfortunately, on school computers (e.g. in the library), you’re unlikely to have the administrative permissions needed to install and use a VPN application. Instead, we recommend you use a web proxy.

Likewise, most school chromebooks won’t let you install software like VPN applications onto the device. In this case, you can try using a VPN extension for Chrome, instead.

Alternatives to a VPN

If you can’t afford a top-rated VPN service, then there are two similar but free alternatives you can try:

The Tor Browser: Tor is a decentralized network that encrypts your traffic and routes it through a series of volunteer-run servers on its way to the internet.
Users typically access Tor through the free Tor Browser, which is available on Windows, macOS and Android devices. Tor is incredibly slow, but it is an effective tool for unblocking websites.

However, be aware that Tor is commonly associated with illegal and suspicious behavior, so it’s likely that you’ll attract the attention of your school IT administrator if you use it.
Free VPNs: There are a handful of 100% free VPNs that are safe to use, even at school. If you can download them, we recommend ProtonVPN, Windscribe or PrivadoVPN. These services won’t unblock websites as reliably as a premium VPN, but they won’t harm your device or spy on your personal information.

How To Use a VPN To Unblock Websites At School

How to use ExpressVPN to unblock Instagram.

To unblock websites at school with a VPN:

Sign up to a CyberGhost. The average VPN subscription costs around $4.00 per month.
Download and install the VPN software for the device you’re using.
At school, open the VPN app and turn it on. Connect to a nearby server location for the fastest possible speeds.
Visit the blocked website in your browser. The VPN should have unblocked it.

EXPERT TIP: VPN websites are sometimes blocked on school WiFi networks. You might therefore need to download and install the VPN application before going to school, using your home WiFi (or public WiFi).

2. Use a Web Proxy

Pros	Cons
Free and very easy to use	Rarely works with multimedia content and streaming sites, such as YouTube
Accessible via any browser, including Chrome, Safari and Firefox	School administrators sometimes block the web proxy itself
Requires no manual installation or set up	Only works within a single browser tab
Works well on school chromebooks and school computers	Doesn’t encrypt your connection, leaving your activity visible to teachers and network administrators
	Unsafe web proxies can spy on your activity or infect your session with malware

The best way to unblock websites at school without a VPN is to use a web proxy. They’re free to use, fairly reliable at bypassing school restrictions, and don’t require any installation or set up.

For this reason, using a web proxy is usually the best way to unblock websites on school chromebooks and school computers, where you often aren’t able to install new software.

Hide.me's web proxy

Hide.me’s web proxy service.

A web proxy is essentially a normal website with access to a proxy server embedded inside. You simply enter the blocked website’s URL, and the web proxy retrieves the site’s content for you in the same window.

This lets you bypass school blocks because you don’t actually request the website’s URL or IP address — the web proxy requests it on your behalf. This means the school’s content filters are not triggered.

EXPERT TIP: If your school uses more advanced filtering techniques, it’s possible that your connection will still be blocked despite using a web proxy. Likewise, if your device has screen monitoring built-in (which is common on school Chromebooks) then your administrator or teacher can always see what you’re doing, even if you’re using a web proxy.

Web proxies tend to deliver reasonably fast connection speeds, and they’re a great option for unblocking text-based websites, such as Quora or Reddit.

Streaming is often not possible when using a web proxy. However, gaming websites can sometimes still work, depending on the web proxy you’re using and how busy the server is.

One important thing to note is that web proxies are not encrypted. That makes it easier for the school and its ISP to monitor you, and it means your browsing activity is not protected. You should never enter any personal or sensitive information while using a web proxy.

Schools often try to stop students from accessing web proxies by adding the proxy’s URL to the network’s blocklist. If that’s the case, you can use one of the other methods in this list to regain access to the proxy site, or simply choose a web proxy that isn’t blocked by your school.

Later in this article, we list a number of popular web proxies you can try.

Alternatives to a Web Proxy

If you can’t find a web proxy that isn’t blocked by your school, then one alternative is to use a URL Unblocker tool, instead.

Like a web proxy, these tools use another computer to access the blocked website on your behalf, bypassing school restrictions in the process. To do this, they typically use an embedded version of the Chromium browser which you can control from within the tool.

URL Unblockers tend to be less private, more insecure, and slower than a web proxy. However, they are less commonly blocked by school administrators and often work with video streaming websites. Examples of URL Unblockers can be found on Replit.

How To Use a Web Proxy To Unblock Websites At School

To unblock websites at school with a web proxy:

Go to a web proxy in your browser. We recommend Hide.me’s free proxy.
Input the blocked website’s URL. On some web proxies, you can also pick a server location.
Click ‘Visit Anonymously’. It will retrieve the site’s content for you without being blocked.

3. Switch to Mobile Data

Pros	Cons
Lets you access any website (that isn’t blocked by your cell phone provider)	Requires a cell phone with good signal and a large data plan
Usually offers quick speeds	Won’t work with certain website blocks on a school Chromebook
Works for streaming, gaming, and other multimedia websites	You may get in trouble if caught on your phone during class
Prevents the school network administrator from monitoring your activity	Won’t let you bypass device-level content filters, cell phone provider content and domain blocks

Accessing the internet through your phone’s data network, rather than the school’s WiFi network, is an easy and quick way to unblock websites at school.

Most school content filters are implemented at the network-level. When you use the school’s WiFi, your traffic passes through a firewall in the local network which monitors the URL, IP address, and sometimes even the content of the website you’re visiting.

It compares this against a blocklist, and if it detects a match, your connection is blocked.

How school WiFi and mobile data internet connections work

The difference between school WiFi and mobile data internet connections.

You can bypass these firewalls completely by switching from the school’s WiFi to your mobile data network.

When you use mobile data to access the internet, you’re no longer subject to school restrictions. You can access whichever websites your cell phone provider allows – often with faster speeds.

By turning your phone into a personal hotspot, you can use this method to unblock websites on school chromebooks and sometimes school computers too. That’s because your computer’s traffic is routed through your cell phone provider’s network and not your school’s network.

EXPERT TIP: Personal hotspots are visible to any device nearby. That means your teacher can often see when someone in the class has created a personal hotspot. You can change the hotspot’s name so it doesn’t give your identity away, but you can’t completely hide it.

It’s worth remembering that this method will consume your phone’s data allowance, which can quickly become expensive. You may also get in trouble if you’re caught using your phone in class.

In addition to these limitations, this method won’t work in two particular situations:

Some schools configure student Chromebooks to always route your traffic through the school’s servers, regardless of which local network the Chromebook is connected to.In this case, your school’s content filters always apply, regardless of which network you’re connected to.

NOTE: Many schools switch their content filters off during out-of-school hours. This gives you unrestricted internet access at home, but it doesn’t stop your activity being routed through the school’s servers. It also doesn’t help to unblock websites during school hours.
School computers and school chromebooks occasionally have content filtering software installed directly onto the device itself, in addition to network-level firewalls. That means website blocks will still apply regardless of whether you’re connected to a mobile data network or the school’s WiFi.

Alternatives to Using a Mobile Data Hotspot

If you can’t use mobile data, a similar alternative is to change the network proxy.

Like switching to mobile data, this option involves unblocking websites by avoiding the school’s network-level firewall altogether. You can read more about how to unblock sites by changing the network proxy here.

How To Use Mobile Data To Unblock Websites At School

To switch to cellular data on a smartphone device:

Tap Settings.
Open WiFi.
Toggle the button to WiFi Off.
A 3G, 4G or 5G symbol should appear at the top of your screen to signal that you’re now connected to mobile data.

To unblock websites on a school chromebook, on a school computer, or on a personal laptop at school, you’ll need to turn your smartphone into a personal hotspot.

Here’s how to do this, using a school chromebook as our example:

On your cell phone, go to Settings.
On Android devices, tap Network & Internet and then Hotspot and Tethering. On iPhone devices, tap Mobile Data and then Personal Hotspot.
Turn On the Personal Hotspot. Set the password and change the hotspot name to something anonymous.
On your Chromebook, open WiFi Settings via the tab in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Find your smartphone’s Personal Hotspot among the available WiFi networks.
Connect to it by entering the password on your phone.
Navigate to the blocked website, which should be unblocked now.

4. Use a URL Shortener

Pros	Cons
Free to use	Only unblocks URL-based content filters
No manual installation or configuration needed	Administrators sometimes block students from accessing URL shorteners
Can unblock streaming, gaming, and social media websites
Works on school Chromebooks and school computers

A URL shortener is a free online tool that takes a full URL address and creates a shortened version that is easier to remember and share. When accessed, the shortened URL then redirects users to the original, longer URL.

URL shorteners are mostly used to create more user-friendly URLs, but they can also be used to unblock websites at school. That’s because the tool lets you visit blocked websites via a URL that isn’t recognised by the school’s content filters.

Example of a URL shortener

TinyURL can be used to bypass internet restrictions at school.

It’s therefore a great method for easily bypassing URL-based website blocks, which are the most common type of school restriction. It can be used for streaming and gaming, and works equally well on personal devices, school computers, and school chromebooks.

EXPERT TIP: If your school filters content based on IP addresses or something more sophisticated, this method will not work.

Sometimes, school administrators will block access to the URL shortener website itself. In this case, you might need to try a few different options before finding one that is unblocked. Popular URL shorteners include TinyURL, Ow.ly and Bitly.

It’s important to keep in mind that your network administrator can still see what you’re doing when you use a URL shortener at school. On school computers and school chromebooks, it’s likely that your teacher can still monitor your activity, too.

Alternatives to a URL Shortener

If your school has blocked access to all URL shorteners, then there are three similar alternatives you can try. These methods also involve accessing a website without ever requesting its full blocked URL:

Search for an IP Address: Using a URL isn’t the only way to access a website. You can often access it via its IP address, too. Simply find the website’s IP address using an online tool, copy and paste it into your browser’s search bar, and press enter. This method can be effective, but some websites don’t permit direct access via IP address, and others change their IP address so frequently that it’s not a viable option.
Visit the site’s mobile version: Some websites host the mobile version of their site on a slightly different URL. Facebook’s mobile site, for example, is m.facebook.com. School administrators occasionally forget to include mobile URLs on their blocklists, which means you can freely access the blocked website by navigating to its mobile version.
Try accessing the HTTP site: Similarly, many websites have an encrypted HTTPS version and an unencrypted HTTP version. It’s therefore possible that only one of the URLs is specified on your school WiFi’s blocklist.

How To Use a URL Shortener To Unblock Websites At School

To unblock websites at school using a URL shortener:

Go to a URL Shortener website in your browser. We recommend TinyURL or Bitly.
Input the URL of the blocked website you want to access. Press “Enter”.
Copy the shortened URL that is generated.
Paste that URL into your browser.You should be redirected to the website without being blocked.

5. Use Wayback Machine

Pros	Cons
Unlikely to get you into trouble	The content may be outdated
Free and simple to use	Doesn’t work well for sites that are regularly updated or rely on real-time data processing.
Requires no software installation or configuration	Some schools block the Wayback Machine website
Works well on school Chromebooks and school computers, e.g. in the library

Another technique for unblocking websites at school is to access a copy of the website, rather than trying to visit the blocked site itself. The best way to do this is to use the Wayback Machine.

The Wayback Machine is a free digital archive containing billions of web page copies. The tool works by taking snapshots of websites and then storing them in its database.

By viewing an archived version of the site, you prevent the school’s content filters from detecting the URL or IP address of the blocked website, thereby granting you free access to the restricted material.

The Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the internet.

NOTE: Some schools block students from accessing the Wayback Machine website on school WiFi. In these cases, you can try one of the alternatives listed below.

Using the Wayback Machine is a quick and easy way to bypass simple website blocks at school, and it requires no manual installation or configuration.

It works on school Chromebooks and school computers, and is probably the method that’s least likely to cause any issues with your teacher or administrator.

That said, it does have its limitations. The archived version of the website may not always be the most up to date. Additionally, some websites may not be fully functional or interactive when accessed through the Wayback Machine.

For this reason, this method is best for unblocking text-based websites. The tool supports multimedia content (such as video or audio streaming) for some but not every website, which means it’s not the most reliable method if you want to watch videos. It won’t work for games, either.

Alternatives to the Wayback Machine

If your school has blocked the Wayback Machine website, there are two similar alternatives you can try. Like the Wayback Machine, each of these methods involve accessing a copy of the website, rather than visiting the website itself:

Google Cache: Google stores cached versions of webpages in order to increase loading speeds. By accessing one of these caches, you can view restricted content at school without being blocked. Simply find the blocked website in Google’s search results, click the dropdown button next to the website’s link, and select “Cached”. Unlike the Wayback Machine, this method doesn’t support multimedia content.
HTML to PDF Converter: An HTML to PDF converter is a free online tool that takes a website URL and converts it into a PDF document. To use one, simply enter your blocked website’s URL into the tool. It will then generate a PDF containing the site’s content for you to view, without having to visit the site yourself. Popular HTML-to-PDF converters include SodaPDF and Sejda.

How To Use The Wayback Machine To Unblock Websites At School

How to unblock Instagram at school using the Wayback Machine.

To unblock websites at school using the Wayback Machine:

Navigate to web.archive.org in your browser.
Paste the blocked website’s URL into the site’s search box.
Hover over the most recent blue circle on the calendar. You can also view older versions of the website if you wish.
Click the most recent timestamp. This will open the most recent copy of the webpage archived by the Wayback Machine.

What Are the Best Free Proxies for Unblocking Websites at School?

Using a web proxy is the most popular way to unblock websites at school, despite the fact that the vast majority of web proxies are actually unsafe to use.

At the very least, they leave your traffic unencrypted and exposed to hackers. However, some web proxies also spy on your browser activity, sell this information onto advertisers, inject adverts into your browsing session, and sometimes even infect your device with malware.

You should therefore only ever use a trusted web proxy, such as the ones listed below. These will keep you safe online and are usually more reliable at unblocking websites, too.

EXPERT TIP: If these two proxy websites are blocked by your school, we recommend trying one of the other methods listed above, rather than risk using an unsafe web proxy.

If you must use a web proxy, we recommend using one of the best free proxy sites to limit the danger to your online privacy and security.

1. Hide.me

Hide.me's Proxy Browser

Hide.me’s proxy browser.

Hide.me’s Proxy Browser is the most private web proxy you can use to unblock school restrictions. That’s because the company is committed to a zero logs policy, which means they claim not to keep any records of your activity when using the proxy.

The web proxy also offers a higher level of security than kProxy. Users are not only given the option to “Encrypt URL”, but can also “Encrypt Page”.

Unfortunately, Hide.me provides no information about what these options actually mean.

While this is nowhere near the level of security offered by a VPN or the Tor browser, it is a step in the right direction. It may also help to prevent more sophisticated school content filters from blocking your connection based on keyword detection.

In terms of performance, Hide.me’s web proxy delivers average connection speeds. It is about as reliable as kProxy at bypassing school restrictions, and offers three different server locations: the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland.

Overall, it’s a useful tool for unblocking websites at school and offers a greater degree of privacy and security than kProxy.

To unblock websites at school with hide.me’s proxy browser:

Navigate to Hide.me’s Free Private Proxy Browser.
Type in your desired website URL into the “Enter web address” box. Choose the ‘Proxy location’ that’s closest to your real location.
Tick ‘Encrypt URL’ and ‘Encrypt Page’.
Click Go. The page should appear unrestricted on your screen.

2. kProxy

Kproxy Web Proxy

kProxy’s web proxy.

kProxy is a very popular free web proxy. In our tests, it wasn’t able to unblock websites as frequently or reliably as Hide.me, though.

However, when it did unblock websites, the load times were very fast and the proxy injected no adverts into the browsing session.

You can therefore use kProxy to access blocked websites at school, with only a small amount of trial and error.

If you do encounter an error, kProxy offers ten different proxy servers to switch between. All of these are located in the US — which is good news for American students — but may cause speed issues for non-US users.

You should also be aware that kProxy has an encrypted HTTPS version and an unencrypted HTTP version. To stay safe and secure, you should only ever use the encrypted version.

One annoying quirk of kProxy is that it switches to the HTTP version every time you switch servers. You can change back to the HTTPS version by clicking the padlock icon on the left of the search bar.

To use kProxy to unblock websites at school:

Go to kProxy.com. Make sure the icon on the left is of a locked padlock, too. If it isn’t, click it to change to HTTPS.
Select “Change Server” and choose any of the 10 Public Servers. After the page reloads, check that the padlock icon is still showing a locked HTTPS.
Enter the blocked website’s URL in the search box.
Click “surf!”. The website should load unblocked.

How Are Websites Blocked at School?

Most schools around the world are required to filter their students’ internet access in order to comply with the law.

In the US, for example, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) forces public schools to block websites that contain obscenity, pornography, and any other images that may be harmful to minors.

How each school chooses to implement its filters is up to them, but there are generally three options:

Third-party software and services. Schools can subscribe to dedicated software platforms – such as GoGuardian, Securly, or WebTitan – which provide a range of tools to help administrators and teachers monitor, filter, and control student internet usage.
These services can be integrated into the school’s existing network, installed directly onto student devices, or configured so that all traffic on the school’s WiFi is routed through the software’s network infrastructure.
Set up network-level restrictions. School administrators may configure website restrictions themselves by creating a local firewall that filters all traffic traveling through the school’s network.

Network-level website blocks can filter by:

Website URL – The administrator creates a list of URLs which are blocked if detected. This is the most common type of website block in schools.
IP Address – The administrator creates a list of website IP addresses which are blocked if requested.
Content Category – Schools can buy third-party databases that sort thousands of websites into categories like “Social Media” or “Gaming”. The administrator can then block entire categories.
Keyword – More sophisticated filtering techniques allow administrators to block websites according to the actual keywords present on the page.

NOTE: Most school administrators don’t have the time or resources to use sophisticated filtering techniques. In comparison, third-party services are much more likely to use them. GoGuardian, for example, uses AI to block webpages in real-time based on the text and images present on the page.

Device-level restrictions. Administrators or third-party services can install content filters directly onto a school-owned device. This is common on school Chromebooks, where tools like the Lightspeed Relay Extension can impose website blocks that work even when the student is at home.

These filters can be configured to block websites based on URL, IP, Content Category, Keyword, or a combination of several factors.

NOTE: Even if your school Chromebook doesn’t have content filtering software installed on it, Chromebooks can be configured to always route student traffic via school servers. If that’s the case, your school’s network-level restrictions will still apply to you, even when you use your Chromebook at home.

EXPERT TIP: It’s common for schools to use screen monitoring software on school computers and chromebooks. Although it’s not a type of website block, this technology allows teachers to see exactly what you’re doing on your computer. In some cases, they may also have the ability to manually block your connection.

For example, if your school uses a tool like Deledao Classroom, the staff have a “birds-eye” view of every Chromebook connected to the school WiFi. If you’re unblocking websites, they will know.

FAQs

Can The Network Administrator See If You Unblock Websites?

If you use a web proxy, a URL shortener, or the Wayback Machine to unblock websites then the WiFi network administrator can see from the network logs that you’re visiting those websites.

Likewise, the network administrator can usually tell when you are using a VPN app or a VPN Chrome Extension. That’s because VPN traffic leaves a specific signature in the network logs, usually in the form of VPN protocols, port numbers and encrypted packets.

The only solution to this is to use a VPN with obfuscation.

The only method in this list that hides that fact you’re unblocking websites from the school administrator is switching to mobile data. By no longer connecting to the local network, your school administrator loses the ability to monitor your activity.